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Her Voice, My Songs - Full Episode
Transcript
00:00The last note hung in the air. I was 16, fingers still on the keys of our grand piano, when
00:05my father turned and walked to the balcony. He didn't shout. He didn't cry. He just jumped.
00:10Blood bloomed across the white roses below. The man who did this to him was my piano instructor. The woman
00:17who stood beside him was my mother.
00:20Piano became my nightmare. On the day I married Lila Reed, I looked into her eyes and said the quiet,
00:25terrible promise.
00:26If you ever want to leave me, play the piano. She was a nobody then, a small-time club singer
00:32with a voice that could break hearts.
00:34She clung to me and swore. No piano will ever cross this threshold. Not ever.
00:40I believed her. I was Shadow, the anonymous composer behind every chart-topping hit. I wrote her songs. I built
00:48her brand.
00:49I turned Lila Reed into a global pop icon. For five years, I hid in the dark so she could
00:56shine.
00:59I thought that was love. I was wrong. I came home early with a new track, one I'd spent three
01:06weeks perfecting.
01:07The second I opened the door, I heard it. Piano. Clear, cruel, and familiar.
01:15I stepped into the living room. Lila was seated at the grand piano I'd forbidden.
01:20A man in a white tailored suit stood behind her, arms wrapped around her waist, their fingers tangled on the
01:26keys.
01:26They were playing a melody I wrote for her. My song.
01:31When she saw me, she didn't panic. She didn't even flinch.
01:36Ethan, meet Kian. He's my new collaborator.
01:41The man turned. I knew his face. I knew his blood. He was Damon Hale's son.
01:49The man who destroyed my father.
01:51My voice came out cold, sharp enough to cut glass.
01:55My father only had one child. In that moment, I knew.
02:00The marriage was over. The mercy was gone.
02:03I sat at my father's grave for three hours.
02:06Rain started to fall, cold and gray, just like the day he died.
02:11I didn't just lose a father that day. I lost the right to grieve.
02:15Where are you? You're being ridiculous.
02:19I'm at the cemetery.
02:21Silence.
02:22Then she sighed, like I was a burden.
02:24You're still upset about the piano? It was just a song, Ethan. Let go of the past.
02:30My chest tightened. Pain exploded in my stomach.
02:32Old ulcers from years of writing through the night, skipping meals, burning myself out for her.
02:36I dropped the phone.
02:38She called back, frantic.
02:42Are you having an attack? Don't move. I'll come get you.
02:45A car sped past me. It was hers. A text popped up a second later.
02:51I stared at the screen. No shock. No hurt. Just calm. I see clarity. I dialed my lawyer.
03:01Draw up the divorce papers. And recall every single song I ever gave Lila Reed.
03:07Every last one. She was a star because of me.
03:12I was about to turn off the light. I didn't go back to the mansion that night. I checked into
03:16a private wellness suite in Beverly Hills, the kind with soundproof walls and no trace of pianos.
03:21For the first time in ten years, I let someone else take care of me.
03:25No deadlines. No lyrics. No Lila.
03:29My phone blew up before I could fall asleep.
03:32Where are you? I'm hungry. Make me soup.
03:35Lila had never learned to cook. For a decade, I'd kept a warm pot waiting for her, no matter how
03:39late I worked.
03:40My stomach still ached from the ulcers I'd gotten skipping meals to finish her tracks.
03:43I typed back, cold and clean. We're divorced. Then I blocked her.
03:49Thirty seconds later, an unknown number called. I ignored it. By morning, my email had 99-plus unread messages begging,
03:55yelling, threatening, all from the woman I'd given everything.
03:57I smiled. She had no idea what regret really felt like.
04:01The news popped up while I was brushing my teeth. Lila Reed had posted a photo. Two hands intertwined.
04:06Her manicured nails wrapped around a man's fingers.
04:08Caption. Ten years. One thousand shows. You're my everything.
04:12Everyone knew. The media. The fans. The entire industry. It was Kian's hand.
04:16She was announcing her new love on the night of our tenth anniversary.
04:20On the night I'd signed our divorce papers.
04:23I locked my phone and ordered breakfast.
04:26The show was about to begin. I arrived at Black Note Records at noon.
04:30My spot was gone. My desk. My awards. My sound system.
04:35My handwritten notes. All cleared away.
04:37In my chair and hail, leaning back like he owned the place.
04:40Surprise, brother.
04:42Lila said this studio's mine now.
04:44I'm her exclusive producer and manager.
04:47That's yours now.
04:49Enjoy the view.
04:51I laughed.
04:52It came out sharp, cruel, and honest.
04:55Like father, like son.
04:56You really are good at taking what isn't yours.
04:59Don't you dare talk about my dad.
05:00You mean the man who broke my family apart?
05:02The man who drove my father to his death?
05:04I stepped closer, voice low enough only he could hear.
05:08You're just a cheap copy.
05:10Even your lies are unoriginal.
05:12Love isn't about who came first.
05:14It's about who she wants.
05:16And she wants me.
05:17I stared at him.
05:18You can have her.
05:19She's used up.
05:20Broken.
05:21Just like you.
05:23I found my father's silver ring and a cardboard box slipped it onto my finger and walked out.
05:27Lila was waiting by the door, arms crossed, eyes tired.
05:31Then stop being childish.
05:33Block me.
05:34Apologize.
05:35I looked at her like she was a stranger.
05:38We're divorced, Lila.
05:39She sighed like I was being impossible.
05:41Fine.
05:42I'll make it up to you.
05:44I'll announce you're my husband at the concert tonight.
05:46The fans will accept it.
05:48Just stop this.
05:49That was her offer.
05:50After 10 years of hiding, of lying, of letting her pretend to be single,
05:54she'd reward me with a mention.
05:55I walked past her without a word.
05:57In my car, I snapped my SIM card in half and threw it out the window.
06:01Tonight, she would have her 1,000 show celebration.
06:04And I would end her career.
06:068 p.m., Madison Square, Gavin.
06:09The arena was packed.
06:10Fans screamed Lila's name so loud the walls shook.
06:13Neon lights flooded the stage.
06:15She rose from the floor on a golden platform, gownsparking microphone in hand.
06:18Her eyes scanned the front row.
06:20It was empty.
06:21I wasn't there.
06:22For the first time in her career, she looked nervous.
06:24She opened her mouth to sing the first note.
06:26The music cut off.
06:27Silence.
06:28Confusion rippled through the crowd.
06:30Lila, it's bad.
06:31Ethan's lawyer's just served the label.
06:33He's recalling every single song you ever perform.
06:35No rights.
06:35No stage.
06:36No nothing.
06:37Her face went white.
06:39Her knuckles whitened around the mic.
06:41The fans started to murmur.
06:43Refund!
06:44What's happening?
06:45She didn't write any of them, did she?
06:48Lila's throat bobbed.
06:49She forced a smile, shaky and fake.
06:52Everyone, I'm so sorry I've developed a sudden vocal condition.
06:55My doctor insists I stop immediately.
06:57Liar!
06:58Liar!
06:59The crowd roared.
07:01Booze rained down.
07:02Camera flashes exploded as she stumbled off stage.
07:05Humiliated.
07:06Destroyed.
07:06Ruined.
07:07In that moment, Lila Reed's empire crumbled.
07:09And I watched it all from a private suite.
07:12Drinking whiskey.
07:13Completely calm.
07:14I'd kept my promise.
07:16She played the piano.
07:17I took everything.
07:19The backstage chaos was a war zone.
07:22Lila slammed into her dressing room, throwing chairs, screaming at assistants.
07:26Call him!
07:27Call him now!
07:28Her manager handed over a phone.
07:30I answered on the first ring.
07:32Ethan, please.
07:33We're family.
07:34You can't do this to me.
07:36Divorced.
07:37I already sent the papers to your email.
07:39I didn't mean it!
07:40I signed because I thought you were throwing a tantrum!
07:43I hung up.
07:44She called again.
07:46And again.
07:47And again.
07:49Finally, a text.
07:50The songs are ours.
07:51You can't take them back!
07:53I smiled.
07:54I posted one thing to my official, newly verified account.
07:57A photo of my original manuscripts, dated six years before Lila's debut.
08:01Signed by Ethan Voss.
08:02Attached official copyright registration from the U.S. Copyright Office.
08:06Caption.
08:07My work.
08:08My voice.
08:09My name.
08:10The internet exploded.
08:13Lila Reid fraud shadow is Ethan Voss, the real consumers.
08:17All at once.
08:18The world knew.
08:19She wasn't a genius.
08:20She was a thief.
08:22I thought that would be the end of it.
08:24I was wrong.
08:25A call came in from a foreign number.
08:28I almost hang up.
08:29Something made me answer.
08:31Ethan.
08:32It's mom.
08:35The woman who'd left with Damon Hale.
08:37Who'd wished my father die and never looked back.
08:43I'm back.
08:44I want to fix things.
08:46Fix what?
08:47You left.
08:48You chose them.
08:49You killed him.
08:49It wasn't like that.
08:51Your father was fragile.
08:52Don't you dare say his name.
08:54My voice shook with rage.
08:57I'd buried for a decade.
08:58You want to talk?
08:59Tomorrow.
09:003 p.m.
09:00At my father's grave.
09:01Bring Damon Hale with you.
09:02I pulled out my father's old leather journal from the safe.
09:07Pages yellowed.
09:09Ink faded.
09:10I'd read it a hundred times.
09:12The first entry.
09:13Ethan played Twinkle Twinkle today.
09:15My little pianist.
09:16The last entry.
09:17I want to hear him play Moonlight one last time.
09:20Then I can rest.
09:21I closed it and placed it in my bag.
09:24Tomorrow they would finally see what they'd broken.
09:26The cemetery was quiet.
09:28Wind blowing through pine trees.
09:30I stood in front of Julian Voss' headstone, black coat fluttering.
09:35Claire arrived first, dressed in expensive silk, face heavy with makeup.
09:38Domen Hale followed it, then old and nervous, unable to meet my eyes.
09:42Claire, I stepped away.
09:45Don't touch me.
09:46I threw the journal on the grass.
09:48Read it.
09:50Damon picked it up.
09:52His hands shook as he turned the pages.
09:55Claire knelt beside him.
09:56I'm sorry.
09:57Criating out when she saw the words.
10:00Too late.
10:01Then I heard running heels.
10:03Leela burst through the gates.
10:04Hair messy.
10:05Dress torn.
10:06Eyes wild.
10:07She'd tracked me here.
10:08Ethan!
10:09I didn't know!
10:10I swear I didn't know about your father!
10:12I looked at her.
10:13Empty.
10:13You knew everything.
10:15You just didn't care.
10:16I brought you here to see the damage.
10:18Don't contact me again.
10:20Ever.
10:21I walked away.
10:25No goodbye.
10:26No forgiveness.
10:28Just peace.
10:29The next day, we met at the courthouse.
10:31Lila stumbled in, red-eyed, broken.
10:33Please, let's talk.
10:35I'll do anything.
10:36I pulled free.
10:37You remember our wedding vow?
10:39If you want to leave me, play the piano.
10:42She stared, horrified.
10:44You did more than play.
10:46You brought his son into my home.
10:48You played my song on my father's piano.
10:51You spit on his grave.
10:55I slid the divorce pacers across the table.
10:58Sign.
10:58She hesitated.
11:00Then she laughed, hysterical.
11:02You're ruining me over a piano?
11:04Over a grudge?
11:07I slapped her.
11:09The sound echoed.
11:10I pushed a tablet toward her.
11:12Photos of her and Kion, tangled, lips close, in my mansion, on my couch, at iStudio.
11:19Sign.
11:20Or I'll release these.
11:21Then I sue every label, every sponsor, every venue.
11:24You'll never work in ink.
11:25Her hands shook as she signed.
11:27The clerk stamped our markage papers void.
11:30I walked outside into the sunlight.
11:32For the first time in ten years, I could breathe.
11:36Somewhere behind me, Lila sobbed.
11:39I didn't look back.
11:40The second I walked out of the courthouse, my lawyer called.
11:43Everything's filed.
11:44The divorce is final.
11:45The copyright recall is in full effect.
11:48Every platform has been notified.
11:49No more streams.
11:50No more sales.
11:51No more public performance of any song you wrote for Lila Reid.
11:55I leaned against my car, staring at the Los Angeles skyline.
11:59Good.
12:00What about the kid?
12:01Kion Hale?
12:02He'll destroy himself.
12:04I was right.
12:06By sunset, the news broke.
12:09Kion had stormed into Black Note Records, screaming that Lila was using him, that she'd stolen his money, that he
12:14was the real talent.
12:15Lila fired back in a leaked voice note.
12:17Your songs are garbage.
12:19You're nothing compared to Ethan.
12:22You're just a cheap copy of a man who ruined a family.
12:26The internet ate it alive.
12:27The try and to leak eye, let's live it.
12:28Lila Kion drama.
12:31Industry explodes.
12:32Kion is a flop.
12:34They didn't need me to ruin them.
12:36They were doing it to each other.
12:38I spent the next week in my private studio.
12:40No distractions.
12:41No interruptions.
12:42No Lila.
12:44No Kion.
12:45No ghosts.
12:46Just me and the music.
12:48My phone buzzed with an email from my old label.
12:51Subject.
12:52Lila Reid and Kion Hale.
12:54I opened it.
12:55They'd released a new song.
12:56It was everywhere.
12:57TikTok, Spotify, Instagram.
13:00They were calling it an original masterpiece.
13:02I listened for 10 seconds.
13:04I laughed.
13:08It was my unfinished work.
13:10The old unreleased tracks I'd locked in a drawer, written for my father.
13:15Kion had snicked into my studio months ago and copied them.
13:20He'd trangined a few lyrics, added some cheap beats, and pretended they were his.
13:25I closed my eyes.
13:27He'd just signed his own death warrant.
13:30I called my legal team, checked the copyright registry.
13:34They did.
13:37They called me back.
13:39Breathless.
13:40Mr. Voss, you registered these original compositions six years ago.
13:43The dates are ironclad.
13:45Kion Hale's version doesn't exist until last week.
13:48It's blatant theft.
13:49I stood and walked to the corner of my studio.
13:52There it was.
13:54A black grand piano, covered in white cloth.
13:57I'd avoided it for 10 years.
13:59But now, I pulled the cloth off.
14:02The cues glinted.
14:03I didn't panic.
14:05I didn't flash back.
14:07I just...
14:09looked.
14:10For the first time, the piano didn't feel like a nightmare.
14:13It felt like a chance.
14:15I called Zoe Blake.
14:18She was a Grammy-winning legend.
14:20The only person in the industry who knew I was Shadow.
14:24She showed up at my door in 10 minutes.
14:27I heard the song, They Stole Your Work.
14:29I nodded.
14:31I want to fight back.
14:32But not with lawsuits.
14:34Not with drama.
14:35I want to play.
14:38Zoe's eyes softened.
14:40Your father would be proud.
14:41I sat.
14:45My fingers hovered over the keys.
14:48I took a breath.
14:49I pressed down.
14:51The first night filled the room.
14:53No shaking.
14:54No screaming.
14:54No ghosts.
14:55Just sound music.
14:56Just me.
14:57I played the song.
14:58I'd written for my father.
15:01Father's Moonlight.
15:03When I finished.
15:04That's the most beautiful thing I've ever heard.
15:06I released Father's Moonlight that night.
15:09No promotion.
15:11No press.
15:12No fanware.
15:15Just the song.
15:18By morning, it was number one on billboard.
15:22Global.
15:23Viral.
15:24Every music critiver called it a masterpiece.
15:27The world finally heard my voice.
15:29Not Shadow.
15:31Ethan Voss.
15:32The real composer.
15:33While my song rose to the top, Lila and Kian's stolen track crashed.
15:37My fans dug up the copyright records.
15:39The proof gone viral.
15:41Kian stole music.
15:42Lila Capper's fraud.
15:43They were finished.
15:44The lawsuits came fast.
15:48I sued for copyright infringement, emotional damages, and fraud.
15:52The court ruled in my favor in 72 hours.
15:56Kian Hale was ordered to pay millions.
15:58He had no money.
16:00He tried to blame Lila.
16:02Lila released every text, every recording, every proof that Kian had planned the theft alone.
16:08They destroyed each other completely.
16:09Then the industry blacklist dropped.
16:11No labels.
16:13No shows.
16:14No sponsorships.
16:15No work.
16:16Ever.
16:17Lila lost his mansion, her cars, her fortune.
16:20She moved into a tiny, run-down apartment in a bad part of town.
16:24Kian couldn't even get a job singing at a bar.
16:27They got what they deserved.
16:29Everything they took me, I took from them.
16:33And then some.
16:34I didn't groat.
16:35I didn't celebrate.
16:36I just keep making music.
16:38Zoe and I finished my first official album, Coming Home.
16:45Every song was mine, every note, every feeling.
16:49The album sold 1 million copies in 24 hours.
16:52I was invited to the Grammy Awards.
17:00Not as a shadow.
17:01As a nominee.
17:03For Best Composer.
17:05For Best Song.
17:07For Best New Artist.
17:10I was no longer hiding.
17:13I was home.
17:15Grammy night.
17:16Red carpet.
17:18Cameras.
17:19A-lighters.
17:20Mr. Vossoss, are you the real shadow?
17:22What do you say to Lila Reed?
17:24Is this revenge?
17:25Reporters swarmed me.
17:26I smiled gently.
17:27I'm here for the music.
17:29The presenter opened the envelope.
17:31And the Grammy for Best Composer goes to...
17:34Ethan Voss!
17:35The crowd erupted.
17:38I stood up and walked to the stage.
17:42I held the Grammy in my hand.
17:46I looked out at the audience.
17:49And I saw her.
17:51In the very back row.
17:53Lila Reed.
17:54She'd snuck in.
17:56She looked thin.
17:58Pale.
17:59Broken.
18:00No makeup.
18:01No glamour.
18:02No light.
18:03Just a ghost of the star I'd made.
18:06Our eyes met.
18:07She mouthed one word.
18:10I looked away.
18:11This award is not for revenge.
18:14It's for truth.
18:15For every creator who's ever been hidden.
18:17For every person who survived the dark and found their way back to the light.
18:21I paused.
18:22This one's for you, Dad.
18:23The crowd stood and cheered.
18:25After the show, I walked out to the parking lot.
18:28Zoe left with her team.
18:30I stood alone.
18:32Breathing in the night air.
18:33A figure stepped out of the shadows.
18:35Lila.
18:37Ethan.
18:38She looked smaller than I'd ever seen her.
18:40I didn't stop walking.
18:41Please.
18:42Just five minutes.
18:43I didn't know.
18:45I didn't understand how much you hurt.
18:47I kept going.
18:48I turned to her.
18:52You knew enough to choose him over me.
18:54You knew enough to play the piano.
18:56You knew enough to break every promise you ever made.
18:58I looked at the Grammy in my hand.
19:00I don't hate you anymore.
19:01I don't feel anything.
19:02You're just a stranger.
19:03I got into my car.
19:05I closed the door.
19:07I drove away.
19:09I never looked back.
19:11One year later.
19:12I owned my own label.
19:13I performed sold-out shows around the world.
19:16I played the piano every single day.
19:19No nightmares.
19:21No pain.
19:23Just peace.
19:24I visited my father's grave.
19:27Every Sunday.
19:29I played father's moonlight for him on a popable piano.
19:33The wind carried the notes through the trees.
19:36I knew he was listening.
19:37I was finally free.
19:39The final notes slowly faded into silence.
19:42I closed the piano lid and began packing up my music stand, ready to leave.
19:46Then something caught the corner of my eye.
19:48At the base of the gravestean lay a bouquet of pure white roses.
19:51Fresh dew still clung to the petals.
19:53Someone had placed them there only moments ago.
19:56No one ever came here.
19:58No one except me.
20:00I bent down and picked up the flowers.
20:02Tucked among the roses was a plain white card.
20:04No signature.
20:05No name.
20:05Only finger-ture trembled as I transled the notes one by one.
20:09Then the message revealed itself.
20:12He didn't jump on his own that day.
20:15A sharp ringing filled my ears.
20:16My mind went completely blank.
20:18Ten years of trauma and years of searching for redemond.
20:20The truth I believed had long been buried suddenly shattered before me.
20:23The truth was never what I thought it was.
20:27My father's death had been a conspicy from the very begin.
20:31And my revenge?
20:34My revenge was only just beginning.
20:37I stood before my father's gravestone, my finger-pit ice-cold.
20:42He didn't jump on his own that day.
20:45The words pierced through every ounce of peace I had managed to build over the past ten years.
20:52I had always believed my father took his own life out of despair.
20:56I had always believed my revenge was over.
21:00But now I understood.
21:03What I had avenged was only a fragment of the truth.
21:06I immediately pulled out my phone, my fingers trembling as I called my lawyer.
21:10Look into someone for me.
21:12Damon Hale.
21:12I want everything.
21:14From the past ten years.
21:16His movements, traggle records, financial transactions.
21:20Everything.
21:21There was a long silence on the other end.
21:23Then my lawyer spoke, his voice unusually grave.
21:27Mr. Voss, there's something I've never had the courage to tell you.
21:30I froze.
21:31What?
21:32Official records state he died in a car accident.
21:34Body identified.
21:39Dead?
21:40Then who was the figure I had just seen disappearing into the woods?
21:44Suddenly, I remembered the final line in my father's journal.
21:47I want to hear him play Moonlight one more time, Rackent.
21:51That day I had played Moonlight.
21:53And after listening, my father jumped.
21:55No.
21:56Something was wrong.
21:57The logic didn't fit.
21:59A father whose only wish was to hear his son play one last time.
22:03Would never kill himself immediately afterward.
22:06I rushed back to my car like a madman and sped toward the old mansion.
22:09The mansion I had never dared enter again.
22:11The mansion filled with piano-shaped nightmares.
22:13I shoved open the dust-covered doors.
22:16The living room stood silent.
22:17My father's piano remained exactly where he had left it.
22:20My hands trembled as I lifted the lid.
22:23Hidden deep beneath the keys was a yellowed note I had never seen before.
22:27My father's handwriting.
22:29Only one sentence.
22:30Trust nothing you see.
22:31My heart death.
22:32My father had known.
22:33He had known someone wanted me dead.
22:35At that moment, my phone began vibrating furiously.
22:39A multimedia messes from an unknown number.
22:41The moment I opened it, every drop of blood in my body turned into ice.
22:46The photo shored the rooftop balcony from ten years ago.
22:50The image was blurry.
22:51But one thing was unmistakably clear.
22:53My father had not jumped.
22:55A pair of black-gloved hands which shoved him over the edge.
22:58Claire Voss.
22:59Watching everything happen without emotion.
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